Apparatus for storing/reading data in a memory array of a transponder

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for storing or reading data in a memory array of a transponder and a corresponding transponder, read/write device and program element is described. Therein, a data file system for storing data within the memory array is defined by a predetermined protocol. The storing additional data includes checking whether a memory size of the application data file is larger than the memory size indicated by the application data length indicator; and storing second application data in a partial memory area of the application data file not occupied by the first application data. Thereby, memory areas which, according to the predetermined protocol, are not used can be used for new applications, data can be hidden in these areas such that they can not be read by protocol compliant reader devices and the data structure read or written is compatible with the former predetermined protocol.

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/681,148 filed on Nov. 19, 2012 entitled “A method for storingdata as well as a transponder, a read/write-device, a computer readablemedium including a program element and such a program element adapted toperform this method” which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/519,742 filed on Jun. 17, 2009 entitled “A method for storingdata as well as a transponder, a read/write-device, a computer readablemedium including a program element and such a program element adapted toperform this method” which claims priority to EP Application No.06026735.8 filed on Dec. 22, 2006 and PCT Application IB2007/055022filed on Dec. 11, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of storing and reading datain a transponder wherein data can be stored in accordance with a storageprotocol. Particularly, the present invention relates to storing andreading additional data in a transponder such as an all contactlessmemory card or a RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag in which datacan be stored in accordance with the Type 4 Tag Operationstandardization of the NFC Forum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Identification products such as smart cards and RFID tags are usedwidely in fields such as transport (ticketing, road tolling, baggagetagging), finance (debit and credit cards, electronic purse, merchantcard), communications (SIM card for GSM phone), and tracking (accesscontrol, inventory management, asset tracking). Radio FrequencyIDentification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying onstoring and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags ortransponders. An RFID tag is an object that e.g. can be attached to orincorporated into a product, animal, or person e.g. for the purpose ofidentification using radio waves. Chip-based RFID tags contain e.g.silicon chips and antennas. Passive tags require no internal powersource, whereas active tags require a power source.

International standard ISO14443A is an industry standard for contactlesssmart cards. ISO14443A-compliant products provide RF communicationtechnology for transmitting data between a card or tag and a readerdevice. For example, in electronic ticketing for public transport,travelers just wave their card over a reader at the turnstiles or entrypoint, benefiting from improved convenience and speed in the ticketingprocess. Such products are set to be the key to individual mobility inthe future, supporting multiple applications including road tolling,airline tickets, access control and many more.

Evolving from a combination of contactless identification and networkingtechnologies, Near Field Communication (NFC) (see for example thestandard ISO 18092) is a very short-range wireless technology, fordistances measured in centimeters, and is optimised for intuitive, easyand secure communications between various devices without userconfiguration. In order to make two devices communicate, users bringthem close together or even make them touch. The devices' NFC interfaceswill automatically connect and configure themselves to form apeer-to-peer network. NFC can also bootstrap other protocols likeBluetooth™ or Wireless Ethernet (WiFi) by exchanging the configurationand session data. NFC is compatible with contactless smart cardplatforms. This enables NFC devices to read information from thesecards, making contactless smart cards the ideal solution for bringinginformation and vouchers into the NFC world.

NFC devices can also operate like a contactless card making themcompatible with the huge installed infrastructure of ISO14443A-compliantsystems. This functionality is called card emulation. Secure NFCcombines NFC applications with smart card security. Devices with secureNFC act like a contactless smart card with cryptographic capabilities.This means that confidential data, and data that represents values, isstored in a secure memory area and always stays on the card.Authentication is performed by the NFC device itself and transmitteddata can be encrypted by the NFC device using a private encryption keystored in the device's secure memory.

The Near Field Communication Forum (NFC Forum) is a non-profit industryassociation founded by Nokia Corporation, Royal Philips Electronics andSony Corporation to advance the use of NFC short-range wirelessinteraction in consumer electronics, mobile devices and PCs. The NFCForum will promote implementation and standardization of NFC technologyto ensure interoperability between devices and services.

To store NFC Forum defined data (called NDEF—NFC Data Exchange Format)e.g. inside contactless cards or RFID tags four different draftspecifications have been made called: “Type 1 Tag Operational”, “Type 2Tag Operational”, “Type 3 Tag Operational” and “Type 4 Tag Operational”.

This invention is related to contactless cards or RFID tags that arecompliant to the “Type 4 Tag Operational” specification Version 1.0 ofthe NFC Forum.

There may be a need for an alternative way of storing and reading datain transponders such as contactless cards or RFID tags. Especially,there may be a need for a way of storing additional data in transponderssuch that the additional data is not accessible using a reader devicewhich is compliant with a standardization protocol such as the “Type 4Tag Operational” draft specification of the NFC Forum and such that itdoes not interfere with data stored in compliance with thestandardization protocol. Furthermore, there may be a need forcorresponding transponder devices, read/write devices, computer programelements and computer readable media for implementing suchstoring/reading method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need may be met by the subject matter according to the independentclaims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are describedin the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a methodfor storing data in a memory array of a transponder. Therein, a datafile system for storing data within the memory array is defined by apredetermined protocol. The data file system comprises a capabilitycontainer file containing management data and an application data filefor storing application data. The capability container file includes anapplication data file control data block containing information tocontrol or manage the application data file. The application data fileincludes an application data length indicator indicating a memory sizeof first application data stored in the application data file incompliance with the predetermined protocol. The method comprises thesteps of checking whether a memory size of the application data file islarger than the memory size indicated by the application data lengthindicator and storing second application data in a partial memory areaof the application data file not occupied by the first application data.

This aspect of the invention is based on the idea that a file system isdefined in a transponder having a memory array. The file system includesfile management data which are stored in a first memory block calledcapability container. The file management data can include e.g.information about the size of the capability container and about thesize and position of application data stored in the memory array. Theapplication data can be stored in a second memory block calledapplication data file. This application data file can contain firstapplication data which are stored in compliance with a predeterminedprotocol. According to the predetermined protocol the memory size orlength (e.g. the number of bits or bytes) of the first application datais indicated by a specific indicator called application data lengthindicator which is also stored within the application data file. Knowingboth the memory size of the stored first application data and the memorysize available in the application data file it can be checked whetherthere is non-used memory in the application data file in which no firstapplication data are stored. If so, this non-used memory can beexploited for storing additional second application data. These secondapplication data need not be stored in compliance with the predeterminedprotocol.

The method of the first aspect uses the data file system in accordancewith the predetermined protocol but includes the additional feature thatadditional second application data can be stored in the memory areas ofthe transponder which are not allowed to be accessed by a read/writedevice operating in compliance with the predetermined protocol (alsoreferred as “protocol compliant read/write device”).

Amongst others, the following advantages can be achieved with theinvention:

First, memory space which according to the predetermined protocol is notused can be used for storing additional second application data. Forexample, the application data file can have a standard memory size whichis commonly larger than the memory size of first data stored therein.According to the present invention, the unused memory space in theapplication data file can be exploited for storing additional secondapplication data not in compliance with the predetermined protocol.

Second, a protocol compliant reader device will only access memory areasof the application data file for which it is indicated, e.g. by anindicator included at the beginning of the application data file, thatfirst application data are stored therein in compliance with theprotocol. Additional second application data which is stored in othermemory areas of the application data file can be effectively hidden fromaccess of such protocol compliant reader device. At the same time, thefirst data conventionally stored within the application data block inaccordance with the protocol will not interfere with the additionalsecond application data. This provides backwards compatibility, i.e. aread/write device operating in accordance with the method of the presentinvention will manipulate the data structure within the memory of atransponder only in a way that it remains compatible with conventionalprotocol compliant read/write devices.

In the following further details, definitions, features andcharacteristics of the method of the first aspect are given.

A transponder can be an active element, i.e. having a power source, or apassive element, i.e. without power source, being adapted for near fieldcommunication. For example, a transponder can be a RFID tag or acontactless card. Alternatively, the transponder can be an active devicewhich emulates e.g. a tag. For example, the transponder can be includedin a mobile phone having a battery wherein the transponder emulates thefunctions of an RFID tag such that a user can use his mobile phone likean RFID tag. The transponder can include a circuitry establishing anarray of volatile or rewritable memory of predetermined size such as forexample 64 Bytes or more.

A protocol can be used as a standard or specification defining how dataare to be stored in the memory e.g. in terms of order and content. Forexample, the protocol can define which information is to be stored at aspecific position within the memory array. Furthermore, the protocol canspecify indicators or flags. A protocol specifically adapted fortransponders is the “Type 4 Tag Operation specification” of the NFCForum. It specifies, with a set of rules and guidelines, the operationof a NFC Forum Type 4 Tag which can be a tag, card or token compatiblewith the NFC Forum Type 4 specification and including a contactless ICchip which has build-in memory and memory access functions. Thisprotocol also defines how application data defined according to the NFCData Exchange Format (NDEF) is detected, read from, and written to theType 4 Tag in order to achieve and maintain interchangeability andinteroperability at the NFC Forum Type 4 Tag read/write level.

The data file system within the memory array of the transponder caninclude several elementary files.

The application data file can be used for storing any kind ofapplication data. For example, data specific to an application to be runin the transponder or in a coupled read/write device can be stored.Alternatively, user specific data including e.g. authentificationinformation can be stored. If the Type 4 Tag Operation specification ofthe NFC Forum is used as the protocol, the application data can includethe NDEF message as specified in this protocol.

The capability container file can include control data which can be usedto control and manage data to be stored within the data file system. Forexample, data as to the size of the capability container itself, as tothe existence, size or position of first application data stored in theapplication data file in compliance with the predetermined protocol andfurther data e.g. concerning predetermined features of the transpondercan be stored in the capability container.

The additional second application data to be stored in non-occupiedmemory areas of the application data file in accordance with the presentinvention can include any kind of data. It is not limited to a specificdata format. E.g. it can avoid to use the overhead required by “Type 4Tag Operational” specification draft and NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF)as will be understood from the description further below.

According to the predetermined protocol, an indicator, herein calledapplication data length indicator, which indicates the memory size, i.e.for example the number of bytes, of first application data stored in theapplication data file is stored within the application data file. Thisindicator can be stored anywhere within the application data file but islocated preferably at the beginning of the application data file. Forexample, the indicator can be included in the first one or more bytes ofthe application data file and can be directly followed by the firstapplication data. Accordingly, the address of the end of the applicationdata within the application data file can be derived from the storedapplication data length indicator.

According to the invention it is checked whether a memory size of theapplication data file is larger than the memory size indicated by theapplication data length indicator. This can be done e.g. by analyzingthe size of the application data file and subtracting the indicatedapplication data length. The result is the size of partial memory areaswhich are not used for storing first application data. If this result isdifferent from zero, it will be recognized that there is non-used memorywithin the application data file which, according to the presentinvention, can be used for storing additional second application data.The additional second application data can be stored anywhere within thememory area not occupied by the first application data. For example, itcan be stored directly behind the end of the first application data. Itcan be stored as one continuous data block or, alternatively, as aplurality of data chunks

According to an embodiment of the method the application data filecontrol data block included in the capability container file includes anapplication data file length indicator indicating a memory size of theapplication data file. Then, the checking whether a memory size of theapplication data file is larger than the memory size indicated by theapplication data length indicator can be done by comparing theapplication data file length indicator and the application data lengthindicator. In other word, it can be determined whether there is a memoryarea not occupied by first application data by comparing (e.g. bycalculating the difference of) an indicator indicating the size ofmemory space available in the application data file and an indicatorindicating the size of stored first application data, i.e. the memorysize actually occupied by first application data.

Alternatively, the application data file length indicator can also bestored anywhere else in the memory array such as in the application datafile itself.

In a further embodiment of the first aspect the method further includesstoring a second application data indicator indicating that secondapplication data is stored within the application data file. This secondapplication data indicator can be a simple flag just indicating theexistence of additional second application data. In this case, a readerdevice reading such flag can know that it must search for additionalsecond application data somewhere in the memory not occupied by firstapplication data.

Alternatively, the second application data indicator can comprise atleast one of data indicating a storage address, a field length, a numberof data fields and a type of second application data stored in thepartial memory area of the application data file not occupied by thefirst application data. Then, the method can be performed taking intoaccount at least one of these data. Thereby, the additionally storedsecond application data can be managed more efficiently and can be foundfaster by a reader device.

Preferably, the second application data indicator is stored within theapplication data file. E.g. it can be stored directly behind theapplication data length indicator indicating the size of firstapplication data stored in compliance with the predetermined protocol.In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for reading datain a memory array of a transponder is provided. Therein, a file systemdefined by a predetermined protocol as outlined above is defined. Themethod comprises reading second application data stored in a partialmemory area of the application data file not occupied by the firstapplication data.

The second aspect is based on the idea that, according to thepredetermined protocol, first application data are stored within theapplication data file. The existence and the location of such firstapplication data is indicated in accordance with the rules of thepredetermined protocol. Accordingly, a protocol compliant reader devicewill only read the first application data and then stop operating. Itwill neither search for nor read additionally stored second applicationdata. In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, theconventional read method is modified in that also second applicationdata, which must not be stored in compliance with the protocol, areread.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect, the method furthercomprises the step of searching for a second application data indicatorindicating that second application data is stored within the applicationdata file. Such second application data indicator can cause a readerdevice operating in compliance with the present invention to activelysearch for additionally stored second application data whereas, when nosuch indicator is present, the reader device will not search foradditional application data. This can accelerate the overall workingperformance of a reader device.

As outlined above, the second application data indicator can comprise atleast one of data indicating a storage address, a field length, a numberof data fields and a type of second application data stored in thepartial memory area of the application data file not occupied by thefirst application data. Thereby, the overall working performance of areader device and the access speed to additionally stored secondapplication data can be accelerated.

In an embodiment of the above first or second aspect, the predeterminedprotocol is the Type 4 Tag Operation specification of the NFC Forum.This protocol is specifically suited for the use in RFIDs, contactlesscards and other NFC devices.

In a third aspect of the invention a transponder is provided in whichdata is stored and can be read in accordance with one of the aboveaspects or embodiments. The transponder can be an RFID tag or acontactless smart card or a device emulating such devices.

In a fourth aspect of the invention a read/write-device is providedwhich is adapted to perform the method according to one of the aboveaspects or embodiments.

In a fifth aspect of the invention a computer readable medium isprovided, the medium including a program element adapted to perform themethod according to one of the above aspects or embodiments.

In a sixth aspect of the invention a program element is provided whichis adapted to perform the method according to one of the above aspectsor embodiments.

On the basis of the above given and the following explanation of themethods for storing or reading data in a transponder a skilled personwill we able to translate the steps of the method into a computerprogram element for carrying out the method.

It has to be noted that embodiments of the invention are described withreference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodimentsare described with reference to apparatus type claims whereas otherembodiments are described with reference to method type claims. However,a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the followingdescription that, unless other notified, in addition to any combinationof features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combinationbetween features relating to different subject matters, in particularbetween features of the apparatus type claims and features of the methodtype claims is considered to be disclosed with this application.

The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present inventionare apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafterand are explained with reference to the examples of embodiments. Theinvention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference toexamples of embodiments but to which the invention is not limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a data file system in accordance with theType 4 tag Operation specification of the NFC Forum.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary data file system which can be read or writtenaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows storage of additional data according to the system of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The Type 4 Tag Operational specification Version 1.0 of the NFC Forum(herein also called the “type 4 tag protocol”) is used as thepredetermined protocol. Main features of this protocol are describedherein. A read/write device which is adapted to operate in accordancewith the type 4 tag protocol will also be referred as “NFC Forum Device”herein. Application data which are conventionally read from or writtento a type 4 tag in accordance with the type 4 tag protocol will bereferred to as either “NFC Forum defined data” or as NDEF message.

The following conventions and notations apply in this document unlessotherwise stated:

Binary numbers are represented by strings of digits 0 and 1 shown withthe most significant bit (msb) left and the least significant bit (lsb)right, “b” is added at the end.

-   Example: 11110101b

Hexadecimal numbers are represented is using the numbers 0-9 and thecharacters A-F, a “h” is added at the end. The Most Significant Byte(MSB) is shown on the left, the Least Significant Byte (LSB) on theright.

-   Example: F5h

Decimal numbers are represented as is (without any tailing character).

-   Example: 245

In FIG. 1 a file system in accordance with the type 4 tag protocol isrepresented. The Type 4 tag shall contain at least one NFC Forumapplication. The NFC Forum application defines the way to handle NDEFmessages on a Type 4 tag providing a file system composed of at leasttwo elementary files (EF files) in accordance with ISO/IEC 7816-4“Identification cards—Integrated circuit cards—Organization, securityand commands for exchange”, namely a capability container file (CC file)and a NFC Data Exchange Format file (NDEF file).

The following sections describe how the NFC Forum defined data arestored and accessed by a NFC Forum device.

NDEF Management

The NFC Forum defined data is stored in the Type 4 tag using the NFCForum application with ISO identifier equal to D2760000850100h. The NFCForum application contains the Capability Container (CC) that shall beused to detect and access NFC Forum defined data. The CC file containsmanagement data, and it is stored inside a read-only elementary file EF,see ISO/IEC 7816-4.

The data structure of the CC file is described in Table 1. The CC fileshall contain from offset 0000h to 0006h the fields: CCLEN, MappingVersion, ML_(e) and ML_(c). One NDEF File Control TLV shall be presentat the offset 0007h. Zero, one or more TLV blocks may be present fromoffset 000Fh.

TABLE 1 Data Structure of the Capability Container file Offset Size(bytes) (bytes) Field Remarks 0h 2 CCLEN Indicates the size of thiscapability container (bytes) (including this field). Valid CCLEN valuesare between 0000h and FFFEh, FFFFh is reserved for future use. 2h 1Mapping Indicates the mapping specification version it is Versioncompliant to. The most significant nibble (the 4 most significant bits)shall indicate the major version number, and the least significantnibble (the 4 least significant bits) shall indicate the minor versionnumber. 3h 2 ML_(e) (bytes); This value defines the maximum data sizethat can Maximum be read from the Type 4 tag using a single R-APDUReadBinary command. The valid values are ML_(e) = data size 000Fh-FFFFh.The values between 0000h-0000Eh are reserved for future use. 5h 2 ML_(c)(bytes); This value defines the maximum data size that can Maximum besent to the Type 4 tag using a single C-APDU UpdateBinary command. Thevalid range is ML_(c) = data size 0001h-FFFFh bytes. The value 0000h isRFU. 7h 8 NDEF File TLV block that contains information to control andControl TLV manage the NDEF file Fh x TLV Blocks Zero, one or more TLVblocks may be starting from offset Fh NOTE x indicates the size of theproprietary data.TLV Blocks

A TLV block shall consist of one to three fields:

-   -   T The tag field shall identify the type of the TLV block, see        Table 2, and shall consist of a single byte encoding a number        from 00h to FEh. The tag field values from 00h to 03h, from 06h        to FFh are reserved for future use by the NFC Forum. NFC Forum        Devices shall ignore those TLV blocks that make use of reserved        tag values and Type 4 tags shall not use them.    -   L The length field shall provide the size in bytes of the value        field. It has two different formats composed of one, or three        bytes. The NFC Forum Device shall understand all two length        field formats. However, depending on the tag field value, the        length field may not be present.        -   One byte format: The one byte format shall code the length            of the value field between 00h and FEh bytes. This byte            shall be interpreted as a cardinal if the value is between            00h and FEh. If it contains FFh the value shall be            interpreted as flag that specifies that the length field is            composed of more than one byte.        -   Three consecutive bytes format: This format shall code the            length of the value field between 00FFh and FFFEh bytes. The            first byte is assumed to be a flag equal to FFh indicating            that two more bytes length shall be interpreted as word.            This word shall be interpreted as a cardinal if the value is            between 00FFh and FFFEh. The value FFFFh is reserved for            future use (RFU).    -   V If the length field is equal to 00h or there is no length        field, there shall NOT be the value field, i.e. the TLV block is        empty. If there is the length field and indicates a length of        the value field N bigger than zero (N>0), the value field shall        consist of N consecutive bytes.

Table 2 lists the TLV blocks specified by the Type 4 tag protocol thatare described in the following sections.

TABLE 2 Defined TLV blocks TLV Tag Field block name Value ShortDescription NDEF File 04h It contains control information concerning theControl TLV EF file containing the NDEF message Proprietary 05h Itcontains control information concerning the File Control Proprietaryfile containing the proprietary TLV dataNDEF File Control TLV

The NDEF File Control TLV shall be always present inside the Type 4 tag.It provides control information about the EF file containing the NDEFmessage. The NFC Forum Device shall be able to read/process the NDEFFile Control TLV. The CC file shall contain one or more NDEF FileControl TLV.

Below the encoding of the 3 TLV fields of NDEF File Control TLV areshown:

-   -   T shall be equal to 04h.    -   L shall be equal to 06h.    -   V shall be composed of 6 bytes that specifies size, read access        conditions and write access conditions, and EF identifier of the        EF file containing the NDEF message. The 6 bytes shall be        encoded in the following way:        -   File Identifier, 2 bytes. Indicates the NDEF file. The valid            range is 0000h-FFFEh, except the values E102h, E103h, 3F00h,            and 3FFFh. The values 3F00h, 3FFFh are reserved and FFFFh is            reserved for future use (see ISO/IEC 7816-4).        -   Maximum NDEF file size, 2 bytes. Maximum size in bytes of            the NDEF file. This size does not reflect the size of the            contained NDEF message as such but rather the size of the            created file containing the NDEF message. The valid range is            0005h-FFFEh. The values 0000h-0004h, and FFFFh are reserved            for future use.        -   NDEF file read access condition, 1 byte:            -   the value 00h indicates read access granted without any                security,            -   the values from 01h to 7Fh and FFh are reserved for                future use, and            -   the values from 80h to FEh are proprietary.        -   NDEF file write access condition, 1 byte:            -   the value 00h indicates write access granted without any                security,            -   the value FFh indicates no write access granted at all                (read-only),            -   the values from 01h to 7Fh are reserved for future use,                and            -   the values from 80h to FEh are proprietary.                Proprietary File Control TLV

The Proprietary File Control TLV shall contain control information aboutthe Proprietary file. The Proprietary file is an EF file that containsproprietary information (see below). The CC file shall contain zero, oneor more Proprietary File Control TLV. The NFC Forum Device shall be ableto read/process this TLV block. The NFC Forum Device may ignore the datacontained in the Proprietary File Control TLV. Below the encoding of the3 TLV fields of Proprietary TLV are shown:

-   -   T shall be equal to 05h.    -   L shall be equal to 06.    -   V shall be composed of 6 bytes that specifies size, read access        conditions and write access conditions, and EF identifier of the        EF file containing the proprietary data. The 6 bytes shall be        encoded in the following way:        -   File Identifier, 2 bytes. Indicates the Proprietary file.            The valid range is 0000h-FFFEh, except the values E102h,            E103h, 3F00h, and 3FFFh. The values 3F00h, 3FFFh are            reserved and FFFFh are reserved for future use (see ISO/IEC            7816-4).        -   Maximum Proprietary file size, 2 bytes. Maximum size in            bytes of the Proprietary file. The valid range is            0001h-FFFEh. The value FFFFh is reserved for future use.        -   Proprietary file read access condition, 1 byte:            -   the value 00h indicates read access granted without any                security,            -   the values from 01h to 7Fh and FFh are reserved for                future use, and            -   the values from 80h to FEh are proprietary.        -   Proprietary file write access condition, 1 byte:            -   the value 00h indicates write access granted without any                security,            -   the value FFh indicates no write access granted at all                (read-only),            -   the values from 01h to 7Fh are reserved for future use,                and            -   the values from 80h to FEh are proprietary.

The proprietary data shall be stored inside an EF file (see ISO/IEC7816-4) called Proprietary file using the data structure described inTable 3. An NFC Forum application may have zero, one or more Proprietaryfiles.

TABLE 3 Data Structure of the Proprietary File Offset Size (bytes)(bytes) Field Remarks 0h 2 PLEN The Proprietary Length field (PLEN)[bytes] indicates the size of the proprietary data stored in theProprietary file. Valid PLEN values are between 0000h and FFFEh, FFFFhis reserved for future use. 2h X proprietary proprietary data data NOTEx indicates the size of the proprietary data.NDEF Storage

The NDEF message shall be stored inside an EF file called NDEF fileusing the data structure described in Table 4. An NFC Forum applicationmay have one or more NDEF files.

TABLE 4 Data Structure of the NDEF file Offset Size Field Remarks 0h 2NLEN The NDEF Length field (NLEN) indicates [bytes] the size of the NDEFmessage stored in the NDEF file. Valid NLEN values are between 0000h andFFFEh, FFFFh is reserved for future use. 2h x NDEF NDEF message messageNOTE x indicates the size of the proprietary data.The NDEF file may contain either empty or non-empty NDEF message.

FIG. 2 shows a data file structure which can be read and written inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. It contains at least 2elementary files:

-   -   CC file: the Capability Container file contains management data        and the File Identifier (in the picture is E104h) of the        mandatory NDEF file (inside the NDEF File Control TLV),        additional NDEF files, and proprietary files.    -   NDEF file: the NDEF file contains an NDEF message. The 2 bytes        at the beginning of the NDEF file indicates the overall length        of the NDEF message.

Inside the NDEF file, after the NDEF message is a memory area which isexploited according to the method of this embodiment to store additionalapplication data (called in the picture Any Data 1, Any Data 2 and AnyData 3), as depicted in FIG. 3.

The indication of the existence of the additional data may be:

-   -   contained inside any NDEF message of NDEF files, proprietary        files, or the CC file, and    -   indicated by the unique identifier of the tag and any        information related to the tag itself and not to the data stored        in it.

In the example, the indication of the existence of Any Data 1, 2 and 3is stored inside the records of the NDEF message of the NDEF file.

The additional data may be located anywhere inside the empty memory areaafter the NDEF message, and may be split into different non-contiguouschunks. If needed the indication of the existence of the additionalinformation may contain the position and/or size of these chunks.

In order to recapitulate the above described embodiments of the presentinvention one can state:

The “Type 4 Tag Operational” draft specification shows how to store datainside a specific type of contactless cards or tags. This inventionprovides an additional way to store data inside the tag. It may be usedfor example to extend the memory area of new application versions,remaining backward compatible with the old ones. Moreover it provides away to store data inside the tag data that cannot be seen by an NFCForum reader device. This functionality may be used to store any kind ofdata in any kind of format. For example this allows storing data withoutthe overhead proposed by the type 4 tag protocol and NFC Data ExchangeFormat (NDEF).

The invention provides an additional method to store data inside anycontactless card or tag compliant to the type 4 tag protocol. It isintended for any NFC Forum Device e.g. mobile phones, PDA, that storesdata inside NFC Forum Type 4 Tags.

Possible advantages of this solution are inter alia:

-   exploitation of non-used memory area: the data is stored in non-used    memory area of the Type 4 Tag,-   capability to hide data in non-used memory areas being not visible    using NFC Forum compliant reader devices,-   the method can be used by NFC application that need an additional    memory area to store data without touching the one defined by the    NFC Forum standardization e.g. due to backward compatibility    reasons.

It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude otherelements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Alsoelements described in association with different embodiments may becombined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claimsshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for storing data in a memory array of a transponder, wherein a data file system for storing data within the memory array is defined by a predetermined protocol, the data file system comprising: a capability container file containing management data; an application data file for storing application data; wherein the capability container file includes an application data file control data block containing information to control the application data file; wherein the application data file includes an application data length indicator indicating a memory size of first application data stored in the application data file in compliance with the predetermined protocol; the apparatus comprising: means for checking whether a memory size of the application data file is larger than the memory size indicated by the application data length indicator; means for storing second application data in a partial memory area of the application data file not occupied by the first application data.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined protocol is the Type 4 tag Operation specification of the Near Field Communications (NFC) Forum.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined protocol is the Type 4 tag Operation specification of the Near Field Communications (NFC) Forum.
 4. An apparatus for reading data in a memory array of a transponder, wherein a data file system for storing data within the memory array is defined by a predetermined protocol, the data file system comprising: a capability container file containing management data; an application data file for storing application data; wherein the capability container file includes an application data file control data block containing information to control the application data file; wherein the application data file includes an application data length indicator indicating a memory size of first application data stored in the application data file in compliance with the predetermined protocol; the apparatus comprising: means for reading second application data stored in a partial memory area of the application data file not occupied by the first application data. 